The great residential purge has begun! Part 2 - Here is what is NOT allowed inside a dumpster.

Hazardous Materials

Not everything belongs in a dumpster—and that’s especially true when it comes to hazardous materials. Some household and automotive products can be harmful to people, pets, the environment, or our local waste system if they aren’t handled properly.

For everyone’s safety, please do not place hazardous waste in your dumpster, including:

🎨 Paint & paint thinner – This includes many types of paints, stains, and paint-related products.

🚗 Motor oil & automotive fluids – Oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and similar products.

🌱 Pesticides & chemicals – Lawn, garden, pest-control, and other chemical products.

🧴 Cleaning solvents – Strong solvents, chemical cleaners, and other hazardous cleaning products.

🔥 Propane tanks – Both full and empty propane tanks should not be placed in a dumpster.

If you come across any of these items during a garage cleanout, home renovation, move, or big cleanup project, simply set them aside rather than tossing them into the dumpster.

Not sure whether something is considered hazardous or whether it can go in your dumpster? When in doubt, just ask us before you toss it! We’re happy to help you determine whether an item is acceptable and point you in the right direction for proper disposal.

A little extra care with hazardous materials goes a long way toward keeping your cleanup safe and your community clean.

Liquids & Medical Waste

A dumpster can handle a lot of cleanup debris, but liquids and medical waste are not on the list! Keeping these items out of your dumpster helps protect our team, your property, and the environment.

Please do not place the following items in a dumpster:

🚗 Motor oil, fuel & automotive fluids – This includes gasoline, diesel, antifreeze, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and other liquid automotive products.

🧴 Cleaning products – Products such as bleach, ammonia, concentrated cleaners, and other chemical liquids should be disposed of properly.

💊 Prescription medications – Unused or expired medications should never be placed in a dumpster. Look for an approved medication take-back or disposal program instead.

🩹 Medical waste – Needles, syringes, bandages, medical supplies, and other medical waste require special handling.

⚠️ Sharp objects – Anything that could puncture, cut, or otherwise injure someone should not go into the dumpster.

These items can create serious safety concerns for anyone handling or processing the waste. Please keep them separate from your dumpster load and use an appropriate disposal program or collection site.

If you’re cleaning out a home, garage, or property and come across something you’re not sure about, don’t guess—just ask us before you toss it! We’re happy to help you determine whether an item is dumpster-friendly.

When it comes to liquids, medications, medical waste, and anything sharp or potentially dangerous, a little extra care makes a big difference.

Electronics

Cleaning out the house, garage, or office can uncover a surprising number of old electronics. While it may be tempting to toss them in the dumpster, electronics often contain components and materials that need to be handled and recycled properly.

Common examples include:

📺 TVs & Televisions

• 🖥️ Computer monitors

• 💻 Laptops and desktop computers

• 🖨️ Printers and other electronics

• 🧊 Refrigerators and freezers

• 🧺 Washers and dryers

• ❄️ Air conditioners

• ♨️ Hot water heaters

Rather than putting these items in your dumpster, consider taking them to a local electronics recycling center or designated collection program. Many communities have recycling options specifically designed to safely handle old electronics and keep reusable materials out of the landfill.

Doing a little extra planning with electronics can make your cleanup safer and more environmentally responsible. If you’re not sure whether an item belongs in the dumpster, just ask us before you toss it!

Tires & Batteries

Cleaning out the garage, shed, or workshop? You may come across a few items that shouldn’t go in a regular dumpster. Tires and certain types of batteries require special handling and are often restricted by landfills because of the way they need to be processed.

Please keep items such as these out of your dumpster:

🚗 Car tires – Old passenger vehicle tires should be taken to an approved tire recycling or disposal location.

🚛 Truck tires – Larger commercial and truck tires may require a facility specifically equipped to handle them.

🔋 Lead-acid batteries – Commonly found in cars, trucks, boats, and other equipment.

🔋 Lithium batteries – Found in many everyday electronics, power tools, and rechargeable devices.

Getting rid of a garage full of old stuff? No problem! Just set tires and batteries aside as you go so they can be handled separately.

These materials shouldn't be mixed in with your regular dumpster load. Instead, look for a local recycling center, tire collection program, or designated disposal facility that accepts the specific item.

Not sure about a particular battery, tire, or other item? Give us a call before tossing it in the dumpster. We're happy to help!